Similarities Between XLS and XLSX

Whether you’re a regular user or a beginner, almost everyone has at least some experience with the popular spreadsheet program, Microsoft Excel. Now, XLS and XLSX are file formats used for spreadsheets created using MS Excel – part of the MS Office suite of software programs. Please note that both the filename extensions do not appear as part of the filename in the File Name text box in the Save As dialog box. Despite XLS being the older file format, there are some similarities between the two file formats – XLS and XLSX.

What is XLS format?

XLS is the only native file format up through Excel 2003. The .xls file extension is an older file format that represents Excel Binary File Format prior to the release of Excel 2007. This format is known as a binary file format, which means the information is stored compactly and can be processed quickly. The file extension was used in versions 97 through 2003 with the .xls filename extension. The only problem with this file format is that it cannot accommodate more than 65,536 rows and 256 columns, which may not be sufficient for larger datasets. Also, it also has a maximum file size of 2GB and has limited security options.

What is XLSX format?

The XLSX is the newer file format introduced by Microsoft with the release of the Microsoft Office 2007. Microsoft started using this new XML-based file format which it officially called the Microsoft Office Open XML format. It is touted as being more efficient in saving data resulting in smaller size and offering superior integration with external data sources. This XML-based file format carries the .xlsx filename extension. This new file format can handle large amounts of data and can contain more rows and columns than XLS file format. The data is organized in cells that are stored in worksheets, which in fact are stored in workbooks.

Similarities between XLS and XLSX

Basic Structure

– Let’s start with the basics. The basic structure of both XLS and XLSX file formats is the same. They are made up of one or more worksheets with cells organized into rows and columns. Text, numbers, and formulas are all examples of data that can be stored in the cells. Both are used for storing Microsoft spreadsheet data.

Data Manipulation

– Both the XLS and XLSX file formats enable users to manipulate data with a variety of tools and functions. Users can, for example, sort and filter data, perform formula calculations, and create charts and graphs to visualize data. Both are commonly used to organize, analyze, manipulate, or visualize data.

Conditional Formatting

– This is a feature of MS Excel which allows you to format the contents of a cell or a range of cells dynamically, such as colors, icons, and data bars. Fortunately, both the file formats support conditional formatting which can be useful for highlighting important data or identifying data trends.

Support for Macros

– Macros are an action or a set of actions in Excel that can be executed or run as many times as required. It is a small program that basically automates tasks. Macros can be used to save time and increase efficiency when working with large datasets. That being said, both the file formats support macros.

Summary

To sum it all up, while XLS and XLSX file formats differ in many ways, they share several similarities, including a similar basic structure, compatibility with Microsoft Excel, data manipulation tools, conditional formatting support, and more. XLS, however, is the older file format that was used in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel prior to the release of Excel 2007. XLSX is a newer file format that Microsoft introduced with the release of Excel 2007. However, XLS has better compatibility as it is readable by all Excel versions while XLSX supports only Excel 2007 and later versions.

FAQs

Is XLSX and XLS the same?

XLSX is a relatively newer file format that Microsoft introduced with the release of MS Office 2007 whereas XLS is an older file format used in the earlier version of MS Excel. XLSX files are XML-based, whereas XLS files are binary files.

Is Excel and XLS same?

Excel is a popular and commonly used spreadsheet program that is used to store and organize data in a tabular format whereas XLS is a file format used by Excel to store spreadsheets.  

What is XLS and XLSX?

XLS and XLSX are file formats used for spreadsheets created using MS Excel. XLS is the older file format that was used in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel prior to the release of Excel 2007 whereas XLSX is a newer file format that Microsoft introduced with the release of Excel 2007.

Is Excel workbook XLS or XLSX?

Depending on the version of Excel and the user’s preference, an Excel workbook can be saved with either .xls or .xlsx filename extension. MS Excel 2007 and the later versions use XLSX as the default file format when creating a new spreadsheet.

What is the difference between rows XLS and XLSX?

XLS cannot accommodate more than 65,536 rows whereas XLSX file format can handle up to 1,048, 576 rows.

Why convert XLS to XLSX?

XLS is an older file format with larger file sizes, which is not so ideal when dealing with large datasets. XLSX file format is more secure and supports more advanced features, which are not available in XLS files.